So, I just got back from my honeymoon in South Africa. While there, I picked up a new board to bring back. It’s a 5’10" quad fin shaped by Glen D’Arcy in J-Bay. It was shaped as part of a 20-board retro run, which was done for a surf expo. Most of the other boards were singles and twins…this one just stuck out and called my name. As I drove around, contemplating the purchase, I came across D’Arcy’s shop. I ended up chatting with him about the board for a while…super cool guy. He basically said a lot of love went into it, explained the bat tail design, said it would be good for my size and East Coast waves, and mentioned that the paint job was a replica of Martin Potter’s boards. Said the board was done from an original template. Anyone have any more info on Martin Potter and his boards? Maybe some pics? I understand he had a cover shot on Surfer doing an aerial with one of his green-and-yellow boards. Also, were any of those originally quads? I know D’Arcy shaped boards for Potter but I wasn’t clear on whether this board is just a paint job replica or a true replica of a shape that Potter rode. Any insight appreciated. Here are a few pics:
The paint job is a replica of the boards Martin Potter was riding in the early to mid 80’s…Check out his segment in Wave Warriors to see him riding that design, “busting his board completely out of the wave and doing aerial manuevers!”
Not that it matters much anyway, but I wouldn’t call that a bat-tail. Bat-tails have three tips along the same line. This is just some kind of diamond-tail with curved sides instead of straight. And Martin POTTER most probably rode those, especially combined with wings.
I just got it home yesterday…will probably be a week or two before I can actually get in the water since I’ve used up all my vacation time. But I’ll definitely post a review when I try it out.
As far as the bat tail thing…I actually used “diamond tail” when I described the board to D’Arcy…he was like, “we used to call 'em bat tails.” Semantics I guess. It’s sounding more and more like this is from a template that he used for Potter. Not that it will make any difference when my lame ass gets on it. LOL.
I don’t know much about this board, however alot of modern fishes from Glen D’arcy are being imported (or rather used to be…) here in Norway. Really nice shapes, work very well in our waves. And still the same board can be used at J-bay. Go figure…
The out line looks a bit like a Potter board. But I have never seen Potz on a bat tail board. Next question How was SA? Did you see any of the places I pointed out etc. Were did you surf etc. Glen D’Arcy is pretty big in SA and Europe he does this realy strange ridge thing on the bottom of his modern boards around the tail. Did you see any of them. Hope you put him onto Swaylocks.
Been meaning to compose a full report for you…things are kinda hectic at work at the moment. I’ll try to get you something by the end of today. In short, we had a BLAST! What an amazing country…I’m sure we’ll be back.
I met D’Arcy and checked out his shop, but didn’t take a good look at any of the modern shapes. He mentioned that Europe, Norway and Japan were big markets for him. He’s only ever sent a few boards to the States through Waterboyz in Rhode Island. Really friendly, helpful guy. I shoulda mentioned Swaylocks. If I e-mail him a report on the board, I’ll let him know we’re out here.
